House repairs scheme cut by £1m due to funding gap

A homes repairs scheme in an inner-city community has been cut by £1m due to funding problems.

Leeds City Council initially said 240 terraced homes in Holbeck would get upgrades including new roofs, doors, windows and insulation but this fell to 180 after budget cuts.

The council said a delay in agreeing government Levelling Up funding, and problems with the ECO 4 grants scheme were behind the budget reduction.

A spokesperson said: "There is approximately £7.4m in funding for this scheme currently, with the target to deliver improvements to a minimum of 180 homes by 2027.

"Should more funding become available more properties will be targeted."

A council report said Equans Regeneration had been approved as contractor to carry out the Holbeck repairs, starting in January.

The scheme is open to eligible privately-owned and rented homes, with owners and landlords who sign up agreeing to pay up to 25% of the work costs.

A repairs scheme for 240 homes was first approved in April 2024 by the council's executive board, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.